Chapter 11
THURSDAY
IN WHICH JAMISON IS POPULAR AGAIN
Jamison made it a point to be fifteen minutes early the next day, and he even upped his game from his usual ripped jeans and T-shirt look to a blazer and slacks.
The next time he went somewhere with Dessa, he wanted it to look like he also belonged to AzRIO.
Maybe then the first thing they’d notice wouldn’t be his last name.
After the wallow-fest of Wednesday night, Jamison was a little worried that it might be awkward between him and Dessa now. But instead, she actually smiled at him when he walked in the door.
“Jamison Kane, we meet again.”
He smirked; though she was still using his full name, it seemed somehow warmer today. “Mornin’, Blue.”
“I sent you Zach’s missing person file to review. Since it’s still open, I thought it might be good for a pair of fresh eyes to look for any similarities to Carly’s case.”
Holy crap. She was acting like he worked here. “Great idea. Thanks, I’ll get right on it.” Apparently they needed to have wallow parties more often.
Dessa nodded to him before picking up her buzzing cell phone. “Hey, Mom…yeah, I found the lasagna in the freezer…”
He dropped his bag at his desk before sliding into his seat.
As he logged into the computer, he scanned the office.
Arthur was already over in his corner, clacking away as if he’d been there all night.
While Jamison understood the guy was busy covering for other offices as well, he had to wonder what time he got in, or if he just lived there under his desk.
Melba, on the other hand, was on a part-time schedule and more of a late riser.
It would still be a few minutes before she came in with a latte in her hand, often with Richard floating at her shoulder as they bickered about the latest gossip from the coffee shop next door.
He checked the calendar for appointments, but they only had a scattering in the afternoon, giving him plenty of time to compare Carly’s and Zach’s cases.
His computer came to life with a soft glow, and Jamison sipped his coffee while sluggish sunrise thoughts percolated through his mind.
Even though this was only his fourth day, he was already starting to feel comfortable here in a way he hadn’t since Rachel died.
Like he had a purpose again. A way forward.
Melba arrived on cue, bubbling with gossip about a Hexxer prophecy that their collective’s guide would die soon, and now the whole town was in a hubbub about who the successor would be.
She punctuated her words with inadvisable waves of the office plant’s watering can as she went on about magically-enhanced substances on the rise, and Deputy Werach’s secretary sending out weekly emails saying their office was working “harder than ever” with “record-breaking success”—whatever that meant.
Jamison half listened as the case file Dessa sent him finally downloaded, and he opened the first document.
He was only a few pages in when the door burst open again with an extra-loud jangle of the little golden bell that he was starting to learn usually indicated a new client.
Though he’d asked Melba about the opinionated bell, apparently the thing predated even her, and there were mixed opinions on whether it had been intentionally charmed or simply picked up a magical personality through PC osmosis.
Either way, it was a bit early for a walk-in.
Jamison glanced up from his monitor, and his sense of ease shriveled.
“No. Way.” Noah practically cackled as he shoved his sunglasses into his hair, his green eyes dancing with glee.
“I mean, I know you told us and everything. But it’s one thing to hear a Kane is working a nine-to-five for minimum wage, and another thing to see it.
Dude.” Noah perched himself on the desk, his smile wide and gleaming.
“You can be honest, is this a cry for help?”
Arthur glared at their intruder from his desk while Melba snickered behind her coffee cup, leaning back in her chair like this was precisely the entertainment she’d come to work for. Dessa was the only one who maintained some semblance of normalcy as she crossed the aisle toward them.
“Jamison, is this a member of your family?” She turned her professionally calm mask on Noah. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
Jamison sighed. “This is my cousin, Noah Kane.” He turned his gaze back to his monitor, trying to pretend like he didn’t care if Noah was there or not. “Noah, this is Dessa McKinney.”
“Nice to meet you,” Dessa said.
Noah gave her a gleaming smile as he shook her hand, holding it for just a little too long. “Pleasure’s all mine.”
Something about the way Noah was looking at her made Jamison’s teeth grind, and he struggled to maintain an even tone. “I think he just wanted to stop by to see the place. He’s a busy guy, so I’m sure he’ll be on his way to…wherever.”
Dessa pulled her hand from Noah’s fingers, and he turned back to Jamison.
“As if I couldn’t make time for my favorite cousin,” Noah said.
“That’s very sweet,” Dessa cut in with a perfect, customer-ready smile. “But we are kind of busy today too, so unless you have some AzRIO business that needs attention, maybe a different time would be better.”
“Maybe I do need attention.” Noah brightened. “You just let me know what it is you do, and I’m sure I’d be happy to give you my business.”
“Noah, get out already,” Jamison said. “We don’t have time to entertain your stupi—”
Before he could finish the sentence, Arthur had powerwalked across the floor and thrust a piece of paper into Noah’s hand before nearly running back to his desk.
Noah’s smile slipped into a confused frown as his gaze toggled between the toothpick of a man and the paper in his hands. Jamison peered over his shoulder and had to fight the urge to slap a palm to his forehead.
Primary AzRIO Services
Paranormal ID Card Issuance and Update
Paranormal Records Maintenance
Inter-Paranormal-Community Dispute Resolution
Paranormal/Nescient Relations Advisors
Then in an instant, Noah’s grin was back. “Hey, I don’t have this Paranormal ID thing. Can I get one?”
“Over here, honey.” Melba waved her hand.
“See.” Noah turned to Jamison with a smug tilt of his chin. “I knew this would be a great little visit.”
Jamison folded his arms, brow furrowing as Noah crossed the room. “As soon as he gets the card, am I allowed to use physical force to throw him out onto the street?”
“Normally, I’d say no, but in this case, I might make an exception.” Dessa leaned on the desk with an almost bemused smile. “So he’s your cousin, huh? Do you have more, or is he the only one?”
“He’s the only one that I know of, and I’m not going looking for any more.”
Dessa’s lips pursed, and she dropped her voice. “He was also involved in the murder trial, wasn’t he?”
Jamison nodded and leaned in closer, watching Noah as he laughed with Melba. “Yeah, I guess you can sense his magic?”
“It’s the same kind you have,” Dessa said, tapping her chin. “Strangely peppery.”
Jamison’s brows shot up, and he took a whiff of his shirt. All he could smell was the fresh scent of detergent. “Like a good peppery?”
“Not good or bad.” Dessa shrugged. “Just there.”
Well, at least he didn’t stink—small favors.
He sighed, and his gaze skewed back to Noah.
Of course, they’d already figured out that the curse had infected the Kane patriarchal line, but it still annoyed him.
Not only because he preferred not to have one more thing in common with Noah, but also because Noah seemed not to care at all.
Maybe Jamison and his dad would’ve been the same way if his stepmom and Rachel hadn’t died, but he doubted it.
Then again, when they hadn’t been able to get in contact with Noah’s perpetually-MIA dad to warn him of the curse, they’d had to consider the possibility that he was dead, and Noah didn’t seem to care about that either.
Dessa opened her mouth to say something else when Rhett Carline, the Vampire clan’s liaison, rapped on the front door. Holy crap. It wasn’t even nine, and this day was already shaping up to be ridiculous.
Jamison ran a hand across his face. “Can we just not let him in?”
Dessa chuckled. “Oh, but that would be rude. Besides, he’s able to come in without an invitation, but it’s just ingrained in Vampire culture that they respect common courtesies.
Kind of like taking your shoes off before coming inside.
” She opened the door for him. “Rhett Carline, what a pleasant surprise. Please come in.”
Dressed in his usual suit, Rhett snapped his black umbrella shut as he entered. “Well, I did say I wanted to forge a closer relationship with AzRIO, and I just happened to be passing by.”
Of course he was. Jamison tried not to glare at the good-looking Vampire as he followed Dessa to her desk, sitting in her spare chair like he was going to set up camp through the weekend.
“Slow day in the clan office?” Jamison asked.
“Not at all.” Rhett smoothed a loose lock of brown hair away from his forehead.
“In fact, we heard yesterday that a member of the paranormal community kidnapped a Werewolf girl. So naturally, the Werewolves are looking for any excuse to blame us.” His glower stabbed at Jamison.
“That had better not be because of your grand theory that we kidnapped Carly Jowett.”
“Rumors will be the death of Azalea Springs, but they didn’t come from us.
” Annoyance rippled through Dessa’s tight expression.
“Though a Were-girl was a victim of a kidnapping event, we have little evidence to connect her to Carly, and we have no evidence on the affinity of her kidnapper, other than the report that he was tall and reasonably fast.”
“Interesting.” Rhett leaned the chair back on two legs as he considered. “Well, two kidnappings in two weeks is a rare occurrence around here. It’s not unreasonable that you could link them by the timing alone. And both young girls…”